Colonial Town Park in Lake Mary: More Than a Friday Night Destination - 07/31/08 11:11 PM
Attention all Lake Mary and Seminole County residents: Colonial Town Park in Lake Mary is the place to be...and not just on Friday nights!

Now, I'll admit, I'm a little biased...my RE/MAX Central Realty office is located in Colonial Town Park and I've had the opportunity to experience first-hand what a great place this is to work and play! Several times throughout the week, I am patronizing the local coffee shop, taking my family to the movies or dining in at least one or more of the Park's restaurants...and every time, we've had a great experience!
Located just outside the North … (4 comments)

Do You Have a Pet "Limit" in Your Neighborhood? - 07/28/08 09:42 PM
I was thinking I would be funny and title this post, "Who Let the Dogs Out," but then realized that this is an issue that could pertain to cats, fish, gerbils, hamsters, birds, turtles and other household pets.
So, I decided not to discriminate against those ball chasing, tail wagging four legged friends many of us have as pets and instead, opted for a more "neutral" title.
All kidding aside, I have a Seller who has a home for sale in a neighborhood that has in their Covenants, Restrictions and Easements that each household is limited to only two "pets."
The Sellers and I only … (3 comments)

How Did I Become Liked Less Than Cupcakes & Ice Cream? - 07/25/08 05:46 PM
Well, today my Flip Video camcorder arrived in the mail. I was so excited that you would have thought someone delivered a 5-carat diamond ring!
My family thinks that I'm already too "techie" for them...I say that I love being connected to those I work with and those who value my ability to provide them with instant infomation!
Currently, I own a Motion Computing Tablet, HP Laptop computer, Blackberry with phone, internet and texting capabilities, two digital cameras, a wireless printer/scanner and now...the Flip Video camcorder!!
Even though I'm not considered a Generation X or Y consumer, I find that I am … (14 comments)

Another Happy Homeowner in Heathrow Moved in Today! - 07/22/08 10:38 PM
Congratulations to Jon & Christine Gillen, Buyers from New York who successfully closed on their Heathrow home in Lake Mary, Florida yesterday! I had the pleasure of working with Jon & Christine in their search for a new home and after a few days of marathon "house-hunting", they found their dream home in the Heathrow community.
Their new home is just under 2400 square feet, boasts three oversized bedrooms, formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen worthy of learning to cook so that you can spend time in it and a pool which overlooks an oversized pond.
I'm sure you'll agree that … (5 comments)

How to Prevent Uninvited Guests In Your Home - 07/20/08 08:46 AM
Dear Seller,
Yesterday, when I arrived to show your home, I found the combination lockbox (similar to the one on the right) WIDE OPEN with no key inside. It was obvious that the last person who opened the lockbox had not ensured that the key was returned and secured before leaving.
For your protection (and for mine, as I was there with a client to show your home), I called your agent to inform him that the key was missing and that the front door was unlocked at the time of my showing.
When I asked if he knew who had last shown the … (26 comments)

Trouble is Bound to be Found in Lake Mary's Heathrow Home - 07/19/08 05:04 PM
I just couldn't resist that title considering my Buyers have a dog named Trouble!

After a two-day trek from Long Beach, New York, Jon and Christine arrived in Lake Mary this afternoon for their anticipated closing on Monday with their two dogs, Trouble and Bessie. It's my understanding that Trouble really IS trouble considering he ate Jon's Blackberry today.
I'd say he got his name legitimately...don't you?
 
 
Jon and Christine are closing on their home in Lakeside, which is an enclave of homes within the Heathrow community.
Heathrow, a Master Planned Community, is located just west of I-4 in Lake … (3 comments)

It's Moving Day in College Park! (near Downtown Orlando, FL) - 07/18/08 09:10 PM
If you've ever looked for a home in historic College Park, which is a suburb of Orlando, you'd agree that the Buyer of this home was one lucky lady as she closed on this beauty today!
Located within walking distance to the newly redesigned Dubsdread Golf Course and Clubhouse, this remodeled home was a rare find in this small town of mostly older homes built in the 1950's.
Deceivingly larger than the pictures depict, this College Park home boasts over 2200 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a pool/spa, and a two-car garage (which is rare in College Park)...all nestled on a large, well-manicured … (5 comments)

Buying A Home in Lake Mary, Florida for $250,000 or Less - 07/16/08 09:22 PM
If you are considering buying a home in Lake Mary, Florida, which is a city within Seminole County, Florida and have $250,000 or less to spend, there are 13 homes for sale today that have a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1800 square feet and a two car garage!
Click here for more information on the City of Lake Mary!
I've been a Seminole County resident for more than 35 years and would love to help you find your next home in Lake Mary, Florida at a price that's still affordable!
Special financing and down-payment money is still available! You can buy a home with … (2 comments)

Buying A Home in Winter Springs, Florida for $250,000 or Less - 07/16/08 09:17 PM
If you are considering buying a home in Winter Springs, Florida, which is a city within Seminole County, Florida and have $250,000 or less to spend, there are 11 homes for sale today that have a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1800 square feet and a two car garage!
Click here for more information on the City of Winter Springs!
I've been a Seminole County resident for more than 35 years and would love to help you find your next home in Winter Springs, Florida at a price that's still affordable!
Special financing and down-payment money is still available! You can buy a home with … (0 comments)

Buying A Home in Casselberry, Florida for $250,000 or Less - 07/16/08 08:50 PM
If you are considering buying a home in Casselberry, Florida, which is a city within Seminole County, Florida and have $250,000 or less to spend, there are 8 homes for sale today that have a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1800 square feet and a two car garage!
Click here for more information on the City of Casselberry!
I've been a Seminole County resident for more than 35 years and would love to help you find your next home in Casselberry, Florida at a price that's still affordable!
Special financing and down-payment money is still available! You can buy a home with no down … (0 comments)

REALTORS: Please, Leave Your Ego at Home! - 07/16/08 08:27 PM
If you are like most consumers I've spoken to or worked with, you'll probably agree that there is nothing worse than encountering a sales person who is on an ego trip!
As a matter of fact, nothing turns me off more than dealing with a salesperson who has an ego larger than life and who is more concerned about securing the sale than in providing the best product or service to me based on what I tell them I need. Whether buying a car, a digital camera, or a piece of fine jewelry, I want a salesperson to listen to my needs and guide … (13 comments)

Nature vs. Nurture: Does the School System Really Matter? - 07/14/08 08:16 PM
Do you believe that the schools your children attend are just as important as the home they are raised in and the bloodline they carry?
I do.
Evidence suggests (even if it's my own!) that children who attend top quality schools have an undeniable advantage in school and in life over those children who attend less effective schools, regardless of how smart their parent's might be!
Personally, I think there is no coincidence that my son has attended "A" schools every year since turning "school-aged" and as a result, he has earned his very own straight-A record (even as a middle-school student in gifted classes)!
… (5 comments)

When the Power Goes Out - 07/09/08 10:43 PM
Even though it's only Wednesday, the power in my Seminole County home has been out twice this week...and just in case you are wondering, YES, I paid the electric bill! Unfortunately, there was a pretty nasty storm in the area yesterday and a tree fell on the power lines...
Considering the power was out for four hours last night and another four hours this morning, I had plenty of time to think about what I needed to implement within my household for future episodes like these and I thought it worth sharing since hurricane season is upon us!
First, make sure … (5 comments)

If ALL Buyers Could Be Like YOU! - 07/07/08 08:48 PM
I wish all of my Buyer clients would be as honest, sincere, dedicated, loyal and patient as the Francisco family has been these past few months!
Several months ago, they were referred to me by a family member (who is a past client!) as they were interested in buying a home. From the moment we met, I felt we connected and I knew that they were the "type" of Buyers I would enjoy helping. They were serious about buying a home and I was serious about helping them!
Initially, we visited and wrote a contract on a bank-owned home...only to find out weeks … (14 comments)

How Do You Measure Success? - 07/07/08 07:27 PM
I am quite sure each of us has a different measure of succcess. As a real estate agent, I think some of the most common measurements are:
The amount of money you made in a specific time period The number of sales you had within a specific time period The number af agents your company has (for those with a brokerage firm) The amount of profit you've made The dollar per hour you earn How do you measure your success?

If you are a Buyer who is interested in knowing more about a Seminole County city such as Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Fern Park, … (5 comments)

"Ten Questions Every Seller Should Ask" When Interviewing a Listing Agent (Part II) - 07/05/08 11:27 AM
Yesterday, I posted the first of this two-part series. You can read the first five questions here.
Now that I have you stitting on the edge of your seat, here are the next five questions...
5. How long is the listing agreement? 
The reason for this question is simple...you should know the length of time you and your agent will be working together. You might want a three month listing agreement and your agent might want a year-long commitment. Find out at the interview what type of time period you are obligating yourself to.
6. Do you offer a "Satisfaction Guarantee" … (8 comments)

Tennis Villa in Seminole County Community Priced to Sell! - 07/05/08 11:12 AM
… (0 comments)

Equity Lines Not Forgiven As Frequently as Straight Second Mortgages - 07/04/08 11:13 AM
Every day in this business, I learn something new! Yesterday was no exception!
I am representing a Buyer who wrote a contract on a home that was listed as a "short sale" in a Seminole County community in Longwood, Florida. Thank goodness, the listing agent, Valerie Crane, has been in business for more than 20 years and was successful at negotiating short sales way before most of us were even in the business or even knew what a short sale was.
The Sellers, like many others in their same situation, had two mortgages on their property. The first mortgage was for $80,000 and the … (2 comments)

"Ten Questions Every Seller Should Ask" When Interviewing a Listing Agent - 07/04/08 10:36 AM
When selecting a Real Estate agent to market and sell your home, it's crucial that Sellers not only interview their agent, but that they verify the information that their prospective listing agent boasts. I've created a two-part series titled "Ten Questions Every Seller Should Ask" which outlines ten areas I believe Sellers should consider when interviewing prospective listing agents.
Just as though there are several different business models within the real estate industry, there are different agent "types" with varying personalities, marketing techniques, selling styles, communication skills and commitment to their business. Only YOU, as the Seller, can determine the type of … (3 comments)

Motivated Seller + Five Star Agent = Only Sale in Longwood Community - 07/01/08 07:22 PM
Yes, it's true. When there is a motivated Seller who keeps their house clean, is willing to accommodate showings on last minute notice and who agrees to the Buyers requests for repairs even when it's more than they wanted to agree to, that Seller can and will sell their house in today's market!
Case in point, I listed a home four months ago at 141 Fig Tree Run in Longwood Club, which is a community in Seminole County. Fortunately, the Seller was a true "follower" of directions and took the advice I shared seriously. The house was always clean, the grass was well maintained, … (0 comments)

 
Lashawn Rainmaker_large

LaShawn Norden, REALTOR, (321) 377-0157 Your Real Estate Advocate in Central FL

Longwood, FL

More about me…

Keller Williams Heritage Realty

Address: 1150 Douglas Avenue, Suite 2020, Altamonte Springs, FL, 32714

Office Phone: (407) 862-9700

Cell Phone: (321) 377-0157

Email Me

Selling or purchasing a home can be exciting and scary at the same time! The goal of my blog is to educate Central Florida Buyers & Sellers about the Good, the Bad & the Ugly things that can happen in a real estate transaction! As an advocate for consumers in Orange, Seminole and Volusia County, I especially enjoy working with first-time home buyers, relocation buyers, sellers of distressed property and luxury home sellers. Native to Central Florida, I'd welcome the opportunity to be your advocate too!

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